#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Coral Reefs in the US Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
should work with resource managers to determine research priorities and how
mechanisms for information and technology transfer;
• a need for training of more scientists to recognise and research diseases and
also train managers in recognising diseases and in the correct methods of
recording symptoms and collecting samples;
• a need to organise and integrate scientific information to guide management
strategies when coral diseases break out e.g. it would assist if people used the
same names, reporting methods, and field assessments. A centralised database
would assist communication between scientists, managers, and divers. Rapid
response teams of researchers, managers, dive masters, and recreational divers
may be necessary to investigate bleaching and disease events;
• a need to bring all disciplines together e.g. pathology, microbiology, ecology, and
toxicology to put the whole picture together, and then link with the public,
policy makers, and resource managers to ensure that information is shared.
This will require cross-disciplinary training programs and partnerships, and
exchanges between experts.
Information on the Consortium is on the website:
www.coral.noaa.gov/coral_disease/cdhc.html
management strategies. Biological and physical data will be integrated into a unified GIS and
visualization tool, allowing managers to see and even predict the impacts of their decisions.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Aspects of St. Croix’s coral reefs are protected by 6 federal MPAs. Buck Island Reef
National Monument (BINM) was established in 1961, expanded in 1975 and 2001, and now
covers 71ha of land and 77.7km 2 of submerged lands. In 2001, the entire Monument was
declared a no-fishing and no-anchoring zone. Until 2001, most of the BINM was open to
extractive uses, including the use of fish traps, cast nets, hook and line, and hand
collection of conch and lobster. The National Parks Service has had limited success in
controlling illegal fishing due to a lack of law enforcement staff. The Salt River Bay
National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, which is also managed by the NPS, still
allows fishing. The Park and Preserve has 160ha of land and 245ha of water to a depth of
91m, and includes the marine resources of the Salt River Bay, Triton and Sugar Bays. In
the Mutton Snapper and Red Hind Spawning Aggregation Areas seasonal fishing closures
are enforced by NOAA. Finally, 2 St. Croix Restricted Areas (0.01km 2 , and 0.4km 2 )
prohibit anchoring of non-authorized vessels.
In 2001, the NPS established the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument on St.
John with most of the 51.4km 2 MPA being a no-take and no-anchor zone, however, the
lack of published federal regulations make this MPA unenforceable. The Virgin Islands
National Park occupies 56% of the 48km 2 island of St. John and 2,286ha of the
surrounding waters. Traditional fishing with traps is allowed in the park, although illegal
commercial fishing is occurring. Spear fishing is illegal in all Park waters and Trunk Bay,
the site of an underwater trail, is a no-take zone. St. Thomas’ Hind Bank Marine
Conservation District was started in 1990 as a seasonal federal closure that protected the
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